The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-12-28

culinary skill anQ general ABILITY. hence
the frivolous youth of yarmouth insisted
that 1t was simply matter of time as to the
ultimate matrimonial results.
Three times year Mrs. Mack had been
in the habit of giving DR.. Blake warming"
in more or less impassioned terms The
alleged causes were sins of omission or COM
mission on the respective parts of the SHRED
help" Bob. the office boy, and Miss Doris
Lane, the Doctors nineteen-year- old ward
1t was the morning after Christmas Day
in the year of grace 1855. Dr.. Blake was
in his library and office combined, hoping
for a quiet hour with the Lancet, which he
held In his hand with pages uncut, as Mrs
Mack, whose black eyes were swapping om-
inously, fungi use the word advisedly-
into the room
With premonition of what was coming,
the Doctor laid aside the pamphlet
"Well, Mrs Mack" he said, YEARLY,
"which-that is, Who'll mean, what Is it
now?"
This day week, DR.. Blake, either Miss
Doris OF leave-you can choose between
us" responded the Widow Mack, with ON
nous calmness Barring the name Of the
offender, her formula of warning was al
ways the same. Possibly she dreamed that
by patient persistence in this line the Doc
tor in some unguarded moment might be
led to say: "Then, Mrs. Mack, my advice
will be-yourself
Why not? The widow only acknowledged
to thirty -six, her figure was trim, her face
not uncomely and she held property in her
own right In addition to this her cookery
was unequaled, and Is itnot recorded that
masculine hearts untouched by personal
charms have been reached through the vul-
gar medium of the stomach?
Not being the dirt under Miss Doris
feet" acrimonously continued Mrs Mack,
before Dr. Blake could speak, II don't pro-
pose being trod on no longer The dear
said the irate lady, with backward toss OF
her head; ordering me out of her study'er
just because said her gongs on with your
nevew, Paul Blake, was scandalous! Things
have come to pretty pass in his house,
Think
Dr. Blake groaned in spirit as Mrs
Mack slammed the door behind her.
why can't she let Doris alone" he NUT
tered, and when he said "Doris" it was with
peculiarly tender infection. But that,
perhaps. was because of the semi-parentai
relation in which he pretended to stand
toward her.
DIR. Blake communed with himself for a
moment or two and then, laying aside the
uncut pamphlet, rose and regarded himself
curously in the glass over the mantel
You're nothing but an old fool, Paul
Blake" he said, turning abruptly away Yet
the earnest, scholarly face and dark inscrut
able eyes which had returned his brief
glance We're by no means deserving of such
scathing remark. But in comparison with
his nephew, Paul Blake, the doctor regarded
himself as modern Methuselah
Doris Vane's ''study'er" was rather cozy
interior formed by parting portion of the
attic proper with some faded chintz cur
tains rummaged out from the big cedar
wood chest in the corner. One of the hang
ings was pushed back for a better side light,
and DR.. Blake, who had sought the attic
with view of reoonciling Doris and Mrs
Mack, stood still at the head of the stairs
regarding the chintz- framed picture before
him
Under the sky-light in the roof was an
easel supporting partly finished portrait
in oil Before it holding palette and
mahl-stick in rest, stood pretty Doris, the